Chosen People

Robert Whitlow

Atlanta attorney Jakob Brodsky wants justice for an American man: Terrorists murdered the man’s wife when she was visiting Jerusalem. Brodsky partners with Arab-Israeli lawyer Hana Abboud, who speaks Hebrew and Arabic. To bring a lawsuit, the pair must find a connection to an organization financing the terrorists’ activities. They enlist the help of a private investigator in Israel, but can they trust him? A dizzying cast of characters and lots of legal maneuvering combine for a challenging read, but the ongoing suspense and a satisfying conclusion make it well worth the effort.

On Magnolia Lane

Denise Hunter

Daisy often seeks out Pastor Jack for advice or a listening ear. When a stranger arrives in their small town with the potential to cause trouble, Daisy confides in her pastor: He accommodates her, but is frustrated that she doesn’t see him as boyfriend material. When Jack creates an online dating profile using the initials T.J., Daisy and “T.J.” quickly hit it off. When she discovers Jack and T.J. are the same person, she feels betrayed and he feels guilty. Can their relationship recover? The subplots keep it from being too sugary sweet, but the story still ends happily ever after.

Lethal Target

Janice Cantore

An Oregon teenager’s death looks like an apparent drug overdose; but when the evidence doesn’t add up, it becomes a murder case. Police Chief Tess O’Rourke suspects workers at a nearby pot farm are doing more than growing marijuana and are somehow involved in the boy’s death. At the same time, she fights to keep her job when someone tries to besmirch her reputation. She finds friendship and support in the local pastor, who helps her overcome long-held resentment against God. Well-drawn characters and steady action make for a fun read.

Auschwitz Lullaby

Mario Escobar

Set in Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, this historical fiction novel is inspired by real people. Dr. Josef Mengele asks Helene Hannemann, held there with her five children, to oversee a day care for the youngest prisoners. Superb writing conveys the horrific conditions: brutal guards, extreme weather, repulsive odors, and Mengele conducting sadistic experiments on children. Despite the fine writing, this bleak tale lacks any uplifting element, and the plot has nowhere to go. As the prisoners wait their turn to die, God rarely receives mention as a source of hope.

Patti Callahan Handout

AFTERWORD

Patti Callahan’s lyrical novel Becoming Mrs. Lewis (Thomas Nelson, 2018) details American author Joy Davidman’s unconventional friendship-turned-romance with famed author and Christian apologist C.S. Lewis. Joy and Jack (as Lewis’ friends called him) forge an instant bond through letter writing before her eventual move to England. Told in first person, the story displays Joy’s insecurities and doubts: “Who was this needy false self who believed that a man could fix the gaping wound inside my soul?” She endures hardships—a cruel, alcoholic husband, a messy divorce, persistent money problems, and significant health issues—but Jack’s companionship sustains and inspires her: “Jack smiled as that golden English sunlight crested from behind a pleated cloud, resting gently on his face as if the light desired to touch him.” The thoughtful narrative reads more like a memoir than fiction. —S.B.